Many of the leading causes of death for men can be prevented with lifestyle changes and regular preventative care. However, men are least likely to see their doctors on a routine basis and lag behind women on obtaining recommended procedures, tests, and immunizations. So this Father’s Day, let’s provide our dads with the tools and information they need to live a long healthy life.
No. 1: Regular exercise! Countless studies have proven over and over the benefits of consistent movement of at least 150 minutes per week. And be creative! There is no cookie cutter version prescribed. If you like to walk, then walk. If you like to box, then box. The only thing that matters is daily activity that raises your heart rate.
No 2: Yearly doctor’s visits! Men are notorious for avoiding their providers. Reasons given for this behavior include: fear of being diagnosed with a disease, not wanting to be weighed, or fear of a prostate exam. However, if a diagnosis is prolonged and the disease progresses, then what could have just been yearly visits has now ballooned into weekly visits needing some type of expensive, painful treatment. So as you can see men, prevention is far better than the alternative. Go to the doctor!
No. 3: Don’t smoke! Cigarette smoking kills almost 500,000 Americans per year. The largest preventable cause of death and disease in the US is caused by tobacco use. About a fifth of all men smoke and the greatest prevalence is between people aged 25-64. And if you already smoke, it is never too late to quit. See your doctor for various tools to aid in smoking cessation.
No. 4: Eat life! Our society thrives on convenience and 24 hour accessibility. Our fast paced lives leave little room for the simple pleasures of life such as cooking and sharing a meal with one another. Meals are pre-packaged, processed and often lack any substantial nutritional value. Fresh foods not only provide essential dietary needs , it also forces us to slow down and savor the process of food preparation. This dying art form must be revived for our existence to continue.
In 2013-2014, the prevalence of obesity in men was 35%. Obesity has been linked to hypertension, diabetes and osteoarthritis, just to name a few. But choosing to eat mostly fruits and vegetables can positively affect future health outcomes.
Finally, No. 5: Get the test, get the blood work! Want a fight in the doctor’s office, then recommend a colonoscopy to a male patient. Although colonoscopy is recommended starting at age 50, men tend to delay or refuse this potentially life-saving procedure. To me, removing polyps endoscopically sounds much better than having a small portion of your colon resected because of colon cancer.
Furthermore, if your doctor orders lab work, get it done! Diabetes, electrolyte abnormalities and kidney disease can all be tested via lab work.
Though Father’s Day is a day to honor the men in our lives who have been exemplary dads, it should also be a day where we convince these men that we want them to be around for years to come. Therefore dads, you must do your part to make that dream a reality.
Your family doctor,
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
SLUCare Family Medicine
yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
